Review: Dark Fortress – Anthems from Beyond the Grave-Live in Europe 2023

Review by Commodus

Dark Fortress – Anthems from Beyond the Grave-Live in Europe 2023

Record Label: Century Media Records

Year: 2025

Rating: 9/10

It is not easy for fans when a great band announces its retirement, especially for Dark Fortress, which has given us quality Melodic Black Metal albums like Eidolon and Ylem (which has been voted the album of the year on our Facebook page). Seeing them during their farewell tour in Rotterdam, I realized that they will surely be missed. So the band decided to give us a final gift: a live document from that tour, but would it be quality-wise for their great legacy?

Dark Fortress

After the Intro, the band starts with CataWomb, which contains amazing guitar solos by Santura, while Morean growls nonstop, leading to merciless headbanging that continues with the stormy Silver Gate. The tempo slows with the melodic Isa, but not for long, as the whirlwind of Pulling at Threads attacks the listener (both from their last album, Spectres from the Old World). The album’s first half ends with Crimson Tears, honouring their first record, Tales from Eternal Dusk.

The second one begins with Cohorror and Self-Mutilation, which proves why Dark Fortress has been considered one of the best bands of their era. Another proof is the haunting and atmospheric Chrysalis, their biggest hit Ylem, the heartbreaking Insomnia and my personal favourite Eventfall, which fills me with many dark emotions. The band closes with Baphomet (Tom G. Warrior of Celtic Frost is a guest in the studio album version), with the cover of Sycamore Trees being mostly as the Outro.

Ending the listening session of the album, I felt sad that this AMAZING band would never record another studio album or even tour again. This record could easily be regarded as their best-of album, and perhaps the band shares the same opinion. Their fans will love it and for those who do not know about them, a new world will be opened to them.